What You’ll Learn
Overview of Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration in Verdent, including setup, configuration, and extensibility options.Comprehensive MCP documentation is currently being developed. This page provides an overview of MCP capabilities with detailed guides coming soon. Contact support@verdent.ai for specific integration questions.
What is MCP (Model Context Protocol)?
Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an integration system that extends Verdent’s capabilities by connecting to external tools, data sources, and services. Core Concept: MCP enables Verdent to interact with systems beyond its built-in tool set, allowing seamless integration with:- External APIs and web services
- Database systems
- Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Project management tools
- CI/CD pipelines
- Custom internal tools
file_read or bash.
Configuration Storage:
MCP server configurations are stored in ~/.verdent/mcp.json and managed through the Settings menu.
Benefits of MCP Integration
Extended Capabilities
Access External Systems: Connect Verdent to tools and services not available through built-in functionality. Query databases, interact with cloud services, or integrate project-specific APIs without leaving your coding workflow. Custom Tool Development: Create MCP servers tailored to your project’s unique requirements. Build specialized integrations for internal tools, proprietary APIs, or domain-specific systems.Interoperability
Ecosystem Leverage: Tap into the growing MCP ecosystem. Community-developed MCP servers provide pre-built integrations for popular tools and services. Standardized Protocol: MCP provides a consistent interface for tool integration, ensuring new capabilities integrate smoothly with Verdent’s existing tool system.Workflow Automation
Seamless Integration: MCP servers become part of Verdent’s tool set. The agent automatically uses MCP tools when appropriate, or you can explicitly invoke them for specific tasks. Context-Aware Operations: MCP integrations understand your codebase context, enabling intelligent interactions with external systems based on current development state.Setting Up MCP Servers
Configuration Process
Access MCP Settings:- Open Settings menu in Verdent
- Navigate to MCP Servers section
- View or modify
~/.verdent/mcp.jsonconfiguration
~/.verdent/mcp.json file, which defines server connections, authentication, and integration parameters.
Detailed MCP configuration schema and setup instructions are being finalized. For immediate assistance with MCP server setup, consult the MCP protocol specification or contact Verdent support.
Configuration Management
Adding Servers: Configure new MCP servers by adding entries tomcp.json with connection details and authentication credentials.
Multiple Servers:
Verdent supports multiple concurrent MCP servers, allowing integration with several external systems simultaneously.
Testing Connections:
Validate MCP server configurations to ensure successful connections before using them in development workflows.
Server Status
Monitor connection status in the MCP settings panel:| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Success | Server connected and tools available |
| Failed | Connection error (click to view details) |
| Loading | Server initializing |
MCP Configuration
Understanding MCP
Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs. MCP servers are executables that implement the protocol. They’re not database connections or API endpoints, but programs that run and communicate via JSON-RPC 2.0. Key Concepts:- MCP Servers: Executables (Node.js packages, Python scripts, etc.) that implement the MCP protocol
- Configuration: Tells Verdent how to start the server (
command+args) - Communication: Servers handle their own business logic (queries, API calls, etc.)
Basic Setup
Location:.mcp.json in project root or ~/.verdent/mcp.json (global)
mcpServers- Required top-level key for MCP configurationcommand- Executable to run (typicallynpxfor Node.js packages)args- Arguments passed to the command (package name, connection strings, etc.)env- Environment variables for authentication/configuration
MCP Plugins and Extensions
Available Plugins
MCP plugins provide pre-built integrations for common tools and services.A curated list of available MCP plugins is being compiled. Check MCP ecosystem resources for current plugin availability.
- Database Integrations: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB query tools
- Cloud Services: AWS, Azure, GCP API interactions
- Developer Tools: GitHub, GitLab, Jira, Linear integrations
- CI/CD Platforms: Jenkins, GitHub Actions, CircleCI
- Monitoring Services: Datadog, New Relic, Sentry
- Communication: Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams notifications
Plugin Installation
Installation Methods: Plugins are installed and configured through the MCP Settings interface, typically requiring:- Plugin identifier or source
- Configuration parameters
- Authentication credentials (if applicable)
Custom MCP Server Development
Creating Custom Servers
Advanced users can create custom MCP servers to integrate proprietary tools or domain-specific systems. Development Approach: Custom MCP servers implement the MCP protocol specification, exposing tool capabilities that Verdent can invoke. Use Cases for Custom Servers:- Internal API Integration: Connect to company-specific APIs and services
- Legacy System Bridges: Enable Verdent to interact with legacy infrastructure
- Specialized Data Sources: Access proprietary databases or data warehouses
- Workflow Automation: Trigger custom build, deployment, or testing pipelines
Comprehensive custom MCP server development guides, including protocol implementation requirements, SDK documentation, and testing tools, are in development. For immediate custom integration needs, refer to the MCP protocol specification.
Integration Patterns
Workspace-Level Configuration: MCP servers can be configured at workspace level for project-specific integrations, enabling teams to share MCP configurations through version control. Tool Interoperability: MCP-provided tools integrate seamlessly with Verdent’s built-in tools (file_read, bash, spawn_subagent), enabling complex workflows combining multiple tool types.
Desktop-Specific MCP Features
Per-Project Configuration
| Configuration Level | Location | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Global | ~/.verdent/mcp.json | All projects |
| Project | .mcp.json in project root | Single project |
| Worktree | Inherits from project | Inherits project config |
Multi-Worktree MCP
MCP servers work across worktrees:- Shared Servers: Base workspace MCP config shared by all worktrees
- Isolated Operations: Each worktree maintains separate MCP session state
- Parallel Access: Multiple worktrees can use same MCP servers concurrently
Project Switching
When switching projects:- Current project’s MCP servers are loaded
- Global MCP servers remain available
- Previous project’s MCP connections are maintained in background
MCP Workflow Examples
Database Query Integration
Scenario: Query production database for debugging data issues. MCP Approach:Cloud Service Interaction
Scenario: Check AWS Lambda function logs for errors. MCP Approach:CI/CD Pipeline Monitoring
Scenario: Check build status before deploying changes. MCP Approach:Security Considerations
Authentication & Authorization
Credential Management: MCP servers handle authentication to external services. Credentials are stored securely in MCP configuration and never exposed in chat history or code. Permission Scoping: Configure MCP servers with minimal necessary permissions. Use read-only access where possible, and restrict destructive operations.Safe Operations
Command Review: Operations involving MCP tools appear in the conversation history, providing visibility and control. Audit Logging: MCP server operations appear in Verdent’s chat history, creating an audit trail of external system interactions.Troubleshooting MCP Integration
Common Issues
Connection Failures:- Verify network connectivity to MCP server
- Check authentication credentials in
mcp.json - Ensure MCP server is running and accessible
- Validate configuration file syntax
- Confirm API keys or credentials have required permissions
- Check service quotas or rate limits
- Verify firewall rules allow MCP traffic
- Ensure MCP server exposes expected tools correctly
- Check tool parameter formats match server expectations
- Review MCP server logs for error details
Getting Help
Support Channels:- Verdent support: support@verdent.ai
- MCP protocol documentation
- Verdent Discord community
- MCP server type and version
- Configuration details (sanitized of credentials)
- Error messages from chat history
- MCP server logs (if accessible)
FAQs
Do MCP servers use credits?
Do MCP servers use credits?
MCP server operations consume credits based on the model processing the results. The MCP server itself doesn’t use credits directly.
Are MCP servers project-specific?
Are MCP servers project-specific?
No. MCP servers are configured at the user level, not per project. All configured servers are available across all your projects.
Are my credentials safe in mcp.json?
Are my credentials safe in mcp.json?
Credentials in mcp.json are stored locally on your machine and never sent to Verdent servers. Use environment variables (
${VAR_NAME}) for sensitive values.Do MCP servers run continuously?
Do MCP servers run continuously?
MCP servers start when needed and run during your session. They don’t consume resources when Verdent is closed.
Can MCP servers modify my files?
Can MCP servers modify my files?
MCP servers have the permissions you configure. Use read-only access where possible and restrict destructive operations.
How do I know if my MCP server is working?
How do I know if my MCP server is working?
Ask Verdent to use a tool from the MCP server. Successful responses indicate the connection is working. Check Troubleshooting section if issues occur.